MESSAGE FROM THE COMMISSIONER Commissioner Karen Gomez-Dumpit The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) having been tasked to monitor, together with the Philippine CVommission on Women (PCW), the implementation of Republic Act 9710 or the Magna Carta of Women (MCW) issues its first comprehensive Gender Ombud Report. The report outlines the functions of the CHR as Gender Ombud vis-à-vis its accomplishments; the status of the implementation of the Act based on the monitoring activities of CHR Regional Offices; and consultations with the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) working with and for women and diverse sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGIE) sectors, and the women and LGBT sectors. It offers recommendations for the specific branches of government to ensure effective implementation of the MCW. Completing this report has been hard but the women and the persons with diverse SOGIE deserve no less. This report allows us to review our strategies and responses as a National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) and dwell on new issues that affect the groups. It also seeks to inform all stakeholders that help create an enabling environment to the fulfilment of the obligations under the MCW. Beyond our broad mandate as an NHRI and statutory mandate as a Gender Ombud, we strive to fulfil our commitment to constantly engage the stakeholders, both government and the civil society, to advance the rights of the groups according to the human rights standards and their application. We will untiringly stress the primary obligation of the State to implement human rights and its responsibilities to promote and protect it, and the participation role of CSOs being the pillar of good governance as watchdogs, channels of assistance, and grassroots actors toward effective delivery of development programs and projects. We are grateful to those who made possible the completion of this report. The road to substantive equality of all genders is long and difficult. We will continue to reach out and work with all stakeholders to advance progressively until we attain the aspiration for equality of rights and dignity for all. KAREN S. GOMEZ-DUMPIT Focal Commissioner for Women and LGBTI